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(KMOV.com) – Law enforcement officials announced Monday that they uncovered a vehicle theft ring operation at a Metro-East scrap yard owned by the brother of Kirkwood City Hall shooter Charles “Cookie” Thornton.

On February 7th, the Illinois State Police Auto Theft Task Force, in cooperation with other agencies, raided Scrap Solutions, located at 5567 Dial Drive in Granite City.

The agencies had been investigating the business prior to the raid. Based on information collected during the investigation, officers conducted a traffic stop of a semi-truck that was observed leaving Scrap Solutions and discovered two stolen vehicles inside the truck’s trailer.

During the raid last Thursday, agents recovered three additional stolen vehicles: a 1997 Cadillac, a 2000 Lexus and a 2000 Strick semi-trailer. A load of fine tableware china, valued at approximately $300,000 was also recovered.

Scrap Solutions is owned by Paul Thornton, the brother of Kirkwood City Hall shooter Charles “Cookie” Thornton. The raid happened on the five-year anniversary of the massacre. Thornton said the timing of the raid was not coincidence.

Gary Brewer Sr., head of a regional auto-theft task force said seizures of the vehicles was a coincidence, insisting he was not aware of Paul Thornton’s connection to his late brother.

No arrests have been made in connection with the illegal operation and the investigation remains ongoing.